AU Summit launches free continental trade area

African leaders from about 44 countries have during the 10 Extraordinary Summit in the capital Kigali signed and launched the agreement establishing the African Continental Free trade Area (AfCFTA). The other two legal instruments are the protocol to the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community relating to free movement of persons, right of residence and right of establishment, and the Kigali Declaration.

On the AfCFTA President Paul Kagame has said during the opening remarks that "At the same time, we will be in a better position to leverage our growing strength and unity to secure Africa’s rightful interests in the international arena(…) the advantages we gain by creating one African market will also benefit our trading partners around the world, and that is a good thing," the President said

Kagame said that AfCFTA will accelerate prosperity value addition for good and services made in Africa.

"The promise of free trade and free movement is prosperity for all Africans, because we are prioritising the production of value-added goods and services that are “Made in Africa” " said Kagame